- Words Notion Staff
In Notion Now: Week 5, Arlo Parks, FKA Twigs and Headie One, M1llionz, Goat Girl, Celeste, Poppy Ajudha, Billie Marten and more have all released new music.
"Don't Judge Me" by FKA twigs, Headie One, Fred again...
Last year, Headie One and producer Fred again.. teamed up for a mixtape called 'GANG'. One of the tracks on it, an interlude called “Judge Me,” was a collaboration with FKA twigs. Now, the trio have expanded that interlude into a entrancing full song, titled “Don’t Judge Me".
"Tonight" by Arlo Parks
Poet and musician Arlo Parks has released her highly-anticipated debut album, 'Collapsed In Sunbeams', which she told Notion "is very much about being a human being" and all the "peaks and troughs" that come with existence. Kicking off with a spoken word recording, the album meanders gently through some of life's most beautiful and painful experiences, set against a mixture of soft, low-fi melodies and more uptempo, summery numbers.
"Weakness" by Poppy Ajudha
Her first single of 2021, Poppy Ajudha kicks things off with a sultry, Spanish-guitar laden single. Speaking on the track, Poppy said: "'Weakness’ is a song about love. About feeling out of control and at the mercy of someone else because of how crazy they make you feel, but also feeling bittersweet about it, because you’re a bad b*tch and you don’t have time for that ish".
"Tonight Tonight" by Celeste
The breakout soul star and BBC Sound of 2020 winner has dropped her debut album, 'Not Your Muse', a contemplative look at romantic love. "Tonight Tonight" is "all about the early days of a relationship" whilst evoking "the feeling and excitement for the night" Celeste said.
"Badnis" by M1llionz
Notion 88 cover star, M1llionz's new single "Badnis" serves as the intro to the Birmingham rapper's upcoming EP. The new track is a forceful drill number filled with M1llionz' straight-talking bars.
"Sieze the Power" by YONAKA
Brighton-based rockers YONAKA have returned with the first single since their debut album, the empowering and unifying "Seize The Power". Get ready for a new era of YONAKA.
"Mistake" by Jaz Karis
South London R&B/soul singer, Jaz Karis, returns with the first single since her 'All Eyes On U' EP from last year. "Mistake" is a delicate, delectable new tune reflecting on a past love.
"Somewhere, Out There" by James Vickery
James Vickery is giving us Macy Gray vibes with the soft but husky vocals on this new lo-fi number. Written as a song "for anyone who misses their significant other right now", the R&B/soul singer hopes it will show that "there is light at the end of the tunnel".
"Garden of Eden" by Billie Marten
Billie Marten has shared her first single since 2019, "Garden of Eden", aptly titled for such a sublime song. Plus, Marten has announced her third album Flora Fauna will be out May 21st. Marten said it's a song "of growth, and competition to evolve as individuals in an increasingly suffocating and vacuous society. I liked the idea of humans growing up like tomatoes in the greenhouse, needing water and oxygen and space, but not getting any of it".
"Jennifer" by salute
Electronic music producer, salute, has dropped this ethereal banger to keep us going in our currently clubless world.
"leaves blow over" by Joey Maxwell
South London's Joey Maxwell has penned this relatable tune about escapism, and more specifically, leaving London on a whim for an unplanned adventure. "“‘leaves blow over’ is about just dipping out, it’s kinda short’n’sweet, like a daydream. The song lets me stretch my lyrical limbs out and I get to play on some of the imagery that comes into my head throughout, a stream of consciousness in that sense", Joey said.
"Cry Baby" by Mosa Wild
Four-piece Mosa Wild have released the sweeping single, "Cry Baby", which lead singer Jim says "looks at how the nature of life isn’t permanence but flux. I think we all might have a complicated relationship with change, it’s either something we welcome or dread".
"Anxiety Feels" by Goat Girl
South London foursome, Goat Girl, have overcome a lot this year so releasing their sophomore album, 'On All Fours', despite the hurdles is quite a feat. On it, the group truly gel, effortlessly weaving between each other vocally and instrumentally.
"lo que pasó" by Nina Cobham
Manchester bedroom-pop artist, Nina Cobham, sings bilingually in both Spanish and English on this new lo-fi single. It's bringing big Billie Eilish vibes.
"World League" by AMA
Part of her new 'VS EVERYTHING’ EP, "World League" is a confident, bubbling number. The EP "sums up this period of time where I felt like I was literally fighting with everything, fighting myself, fighting my relationships, fighting my dreams, fighting doubts", AMA said. "This EP is me drawing the line and choosing to come out on top and win with love."
"Love Hangover" by Good Health Good Wealth
The debut track from the rising London duo's upcoming EP provides a nice dose of escapism. Speaking on the track, vocalist Bruce Breaksey said: “It’s about that feeling after a night you probably didn't even want to be at, and having your girl there the next day who’s the only cure”.
